<p>I always thought Wesleyan was an awesome school. I thought of it as sort of in its own league, and that the students <em>choose</em> to go to Wesleyan-- although they are getting in to schools with bigger names. I know it is a very unique school, very very liberal-- and maybe that's why it sort of creates an attraction of its own.<br>
I am not really really liberal. Politically, I am more liberal than conservative, but very liberal people, to be honest, make me mad if I spend too much time with them. Is it even worth looking at Wesleyan if I feel like that? I know that I wouldn't go to any nude parties, or fast for strange reasons, or clam bake in my room while doing homework. Are there any people at Wes. who are just sort of normal, any not way 'hippie' or extremely alternative in all their thinking?</p>
<p>There are plenty of people who are relatively "normal" Some more so than others, though I'd hesitate to say there are many completely boring people. Then again, that's probably true of anywhere, since no one is boring if you really get to know them...</p>
<p>As with all stereotypes, the reputation is larger than the truth. There are some activists and a decent number of alternative people, though few who are alternative in every aspect of their existence.</p>
<p>Don't cross it off your list completely, but also don't think it will be boring just like every other school... come to visit, do an overnight, and figure out if the vibe fits you is my best best advice!!</p>
<p>cuz he's from Maine, too. :) </p>
<p>Actually, I constantly hear it from the other side of the fence -- the rads -- who arrive on campus every year expecting Wesleyan to be one great big PETA protest meeting and are disappointed to find how "normal" everyone is. So, there's no pleasing everyone.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is both big enough and small enough to foster a variety of niches. After first year, you may want to look into Out House or one of the more sports oriented frats. Psi U used to be the soccer frat; not sure if that's still true. Don't think, however, that just because most people don't protest or smoke dope or run around in the nude that you are going to be immune from all change. College is the most amazing time of your life. You are going to grow in ways you can't even predict. So, don't fight it. :)</p>
<p>I know a girl from Maine going to Wesleyan. She picked wes over University of Chicago. I also know a girl going to wes who picked wes over cornell and tufts. I also know a guy who picked Wes over Hopkins.
I also know a guy who picked UChicago over Wes. Then there are Wes over Claremont McKenna, wes over Berkeley, Pomona over wes, Bryn Mawr over wes etc.
There are all sorts of people who make all sorts of choices.</p>
<p>The truth of the matter is, I really love wes. But I have to say that if I had gotten into Chicago(wl) or Cornell(rej.), I would have had a hard time saying no.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess I will look at it. But, yeah I am from Maine, and live in a very liberal part of Maine. It's not like I'm coming from Alabama and am not totally unseasoned to organic hippie types. My family is from New York and really isn't too liberal. I don't think my family would let me go to Wesleyan anyway, but I will look into it more. Yeah, I know some people from my school and town that go or went to Wesleyan. One of them was very liberal, but the other was more "boring" (as madjoy put it). But, you have to admit Wesleyan is not very diverse. Maybe in terms of race ot religion it is, but you would get a pretty slanted education with the liberal majoriy. It's the same sort of thing as attending a Christian school, just too far to one side or the other. I think a school that has both types of people would be better for me (liberal and conservative). I need a balance, and it is more realistic to be around a mixed group of people. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Well, wait a minute. I don't think you're hearing us. </p>
<p>If you and your family truly, in your heart hearts, think (or feel) that you need a 50/50 mix of liberals and registered Republicans to be around while in college -- you can find that -- but will be severely limited in your choices, mostly to second and third tier schools.</p>
<p>What it really sounds like to me, is that you have an aversion to political activism, seeing it, hearing it and being around it. That's okay; we live in difficult times; the country is divided. Being eighteen and facing a lifetime of uncertainty and debt is hard enough without constantly having to be reminded of it. There are plenty of first rate colleges in the New England area where you won't be bothered with such things, or at least not very often. But, I wouldn't confuse those places with bastions of conservatism. Just bastions of privilege. There's a difference.</p>
<p>Wesleyan is a very special place that brings together people from all sorts of backgrounds and interests. Most were at the tops of their classes, most are from the upper end of the middle class, most would fit comfortbaly within the spectrum of nerd/geek. And most --at any given time -- are quite apathetic. Once in a while, however, something or some group will spark their interest and garner some degree of concerted action. Lately, it seems to be around home-grown interests (WESU, chalkings, "The Independent Ivy".) If that degree of commotion is a deal breaker, sorry to hear it. Good luck at Middlebury.</p>
<p>Nice crack at Middlebury, johnwesley. Where does this animosity come from?</p>
<p>I could have substituted virtually any other NESCAC college with the possible exceptions of Bates and Trinity, the latter because there's a kind of token conservative activism going on there. :/</p>
<p>There are token Republican presences at other good Northeastern colleges, including most of the Ivies. And, even at Wesleyan, if you banged around DKE or Psi U, I wager you would bump into a Bush supporter or two (though, now would be a bad time to test that theory.)</p>
<p>My point is, to single out Wesleyan because it doesn't have a lot of Republicans would be almost a form of scapegoating.</p>
<p>Hey, I didn't use "boring" in that way. I was suggesting that there aren't any boring people at Wesleyan - even people who support Bush or play football. Students at Wesleyan, whether they're here for the atmosphere or for the academic reputation, tend to be laidback and passionate about whatever they do. This is true to an extent at any school, but applies especially to Wesleyan.</p>
<p>There is far less of a homogenous liberal domination bubble than I expected. Republicans are rare, but in all honesty, hardcore Democrats aren't the majority either. Most people seem to have their own system of beliefs that they prefer not to categorize. I have a good friend who's wonderfully libertarian and will argue intelligently with you about any economic issues for hours until you give up. The kids across the hall from me are Bush supporters. The kid down the hall is a fairly apolitical video game fanatic who doesn't do sports, his roommate is a fairly liberal international (Japanese) student, and next to them is a girl who's very into indie music and a lacrosse player. None of these brief descriptions do them justice, because people are multidimensional, and especially at Wesleyan, students multitask and are involved in so many things it's impossible to stereotype them.</p>
<p>That said, if you (the general you) don't want to be around people who will make you question yourself - if you're perfectly content as you are and like the status quo - then maybe Wesleyan isn't the best place for you.</p>
<p>Hey, thanks guys. I was just sort of confused about Wesleyan, now I think I have a better handle on it. To be honest, I am actually a bit intimidated of the "commotion" and intensity that Wesleyan has, as you've described. I know some very liberal and strong minded people who will just argue and argue and will never loose. It is pretty fun to argue with them, though, I always learn a lot and never am actually offended. And yeah, I know pretty much all the good colleges (especially the NESCACs) are liberal, but I think Wesleyan is known for being the most. But, from your posts, it seems that the off-balance of Wesleyan really creates a unique and especially intense learning environment, where people are just intense about everything they do, which may be a characteristic of liberalism. I will definitely look more into the school.</p>
<p>Johnwesley,
I found your comment about me having "an aversion to political activism," kinda funny. I don't have very much experience with it, and not much more to say about it on a CC thread, but I like how you just wrote that. Very analytical, clever, well written. By the way, sorry I can't write in English, I hope you guys can understand me. I feel so stupid, I can't remember anything. I have been living with an Austrian family in Austria for the last nine months. I only speak German, and I can't remember English. My experience here has probably made me more liberal minded, although I love the USA more than ever, and maybe sparked my interest in Wesleyan. Thanks for your replies, if you have any more thoughts please post 'em.</p>
<p>I have never been too active in politics or anything and I love wesleyan and I'm glad to be going there this fall.
I think political issues at wesleyan center more around human rights and related issues. I will rally for Darfur when I am there, and will probably help out with Amnesty. I will not laugh at people for being republican, well maybe a little :-p (kidding). </p>
<p>You will find that a larger % of kids studying econ will be more 'republican' because that's the way i've normally seen it work. There will be students who don't care about boundaries presented by political affiliation and will think for themselves about each issue presented and will then make a decision instead of siding with a party, that's the way I am atleast. The thing about wes students blasting religion isn't really that true either. I'm a Hindu by birth, and by the things i've seen in life I've lost my belief in religion, but a friend of mine who's going to wes is Catholic and she isn't going to have any problems at all. I'm more philosophy oriented than 'party' oriented so I decide what I believe.</p>
<p>Wesleyan's extremely open minded and will accept you if you are similar in nature, no matter your own beliefs. As long as you don't pick on someone else's beliefs, discussions will occur and will be wonderful.</p>
<br>
<p>Very analytical, clever, well written.< [blushes]</p>
<br>
<p>Don't get too red, dear :-P</p>